Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 90, 1SS'

one comes to think of it much of in
terest has transpired, and the Presi-
dent, at least, can testify that the
drafts upon his attention have been
sufficient to occupy every moment OF
! his time. In the first place he re-
viewed the wet bedraggled Emancia-
ton parade, which was well nigh di-
vested of all it's glory by torrents OF
rain. He accorded special recep-
ton to the Madison square theatrical
company, and attended their perform
ance for the benefit of the "Actors'
Fund.-" he made several important
appointments, had conference with
the new Pacific Railroad Commits
sioners, who have arrived in this city,
and, never neglecting his tri-weekly
handshakings for tie public, has been
interviewed each day privately, by
score or more of public men, politi-
clans and friends.
| The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion now occupy their permanent
quarters in handsome new building
with white marble front, on'F street.
At last the Commission has decided
upon and appointed its Secretary,
Mr.. Mosely, who was found in Boston.
He is a Democrat and member of
the Massachusetts, State Legislature.
He is also lumber merchant and
has had valuable experience in the
railroad business.
The time of the Commission is
taken up with the consideration of
the numerous complaints and petit
tons before them, and with the recep-
| ton OF visitors, the petitioners and
complainers, who come in person
The commission has been receiving
letters on all sorts of irrelevcnt sub
jects from different parts of the Uni
ted States, and becoming tired of
answering conundrums, not arising
from specific complaints which the
law authorizes them to consider, they
have just published statement of the
limits of their jurisdiction and powers.
This important utterance of the Com
mission, while it apparently avoids the
questions to which it is applied and
refers the questioners to the railroads
and courts for the preliminary and ul-
innate constructions of the law, points
out the methods by which such ques-
tions can come before them, and makes
a suggestion, which, if observed, will
prevent ninety-nine out of one hun
dred of such questions from ever aris-
ing.
The fruitful cause of these conun-
drums is the attitude of the railroads,
which enforce vigorously, promptly
and literally everything in the law
that can possibly tend to swell their
revenues, endeavOr to suspend or
avoid everything which can reduce
their charges. and fall into a panic
stricken condition at the idea of runs
ming the risk Of penalty by giving a
liberal construction to the clauses au-
thorizing reduced rates in certain
cases. With many of the roads the
purpose is twofold, to make money
and to create discomforts which may
be attributed to the law, bringing to it
if possible unpopularity and repeal.
The commission say that there is
nothing novel in the provisions OF the
law establishing the general princi-
pies under which interstate commerce
must now be conducted. They SIM
ply bring back the business of the
! common carriers to the well settled
principles of the common law.
Since last wrote you, Spring has
arrived in Washington and with it re-
newed interest in the National Drill
which takes place next month. Pre-
parations for the event are being car
ried briskly forward and it is learned
that some of the companies will arrive
considerably in advance of the time OF
the Encampment. The Monument
grounds are being put in readiness for
the camp, and grand stands are being
erected for spectators around the el-
| lipse on which the contest for prizes
will be held. Nearly one hundred or
CARNATIONS will participate, and they
will come from almost every State in
the Union.
! Some of the citizens of Washington
are completely frustrated over the en-
| forcement of some old laws which it
was thought were so useless from dis
use that they could not be used. They
are the old Sunday-closing laws, which
require that all places of business
where anything is done or sold for
profit, except apothecary shops and
undertaking establishments, shall be
Theoretically sealed on the first day of
the week. The authorities have resur-
rected these laws from the statute
book which has been so long ignored,
and are enforcing them vigorously.
In view of the great influx of strang-
ers expected here during the time OF
the National Drill, some earnest ap-
peals have been made by the leading
hotel proprietors and other public
spirited citizens for relief from the
b, operations of that ordinance against
| Sunday shaving, passed as, they say,